EURO 2016: Republic of Ireland v France - Previous Meetings

A videograb from Sky Sports of Thierry Henry's handball that led to France's win over Republic of Ireland

Published:18:04Saturday 25 June 2016

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The Republic of Ireland and France will meet for the first time at the European Championships on Sunday, but they are old foes.

Everyone remembers the last time the sides locked horns, thanks to Thierry Henry. Here are a look at that night and a few others.

Republic of Ireland 3 France 5, October 4, 1953, World Cup qualifier

France raced into a 3-0 lead at Dalymount Park as goals from Leon Glovacki, Armand Penverne and Joseph Ujlaki put them in the driving seat with just five minutes of the second half gone. Reg Ryan’s penalty reduced the deficit, but Ujlaki’s second and Pierre Flamion’s strike meant late efforts from Davy Walsh and Frank O’Farrell counted for little.

Ray Treacy was Ireland’s hero with a 76th-minute winner after Jean-Michel Larque had cancelled out Terry Conroy’s first-half strike.

Republic of Ireland 3 France 2, World Cup qualifier, October 14, 1981

Even a late goal by French great Michel Platini could not rescue his team as Philippe Mahut’s own goal and further efforts from Frank Stapleton and Michael Robinson saw the Republic home despite Bruno Bellone’s ninth-minute equaliser.

Ireland felt hard done by when a draw they believed would not be seeded eventually was and they landed the French, and their hopes of making it to South Africa were dealt a potentially fatal blow when Nicolas Anelka fired his side to a 1-0 win in Dublin.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s men headed for the Stade de France with nothing to lose and Robbie Keane’s first-half goal took the tie in extra time as they turned in a fine display, only to have their hearts broken when Henry’s handball during the build-up to William Gallas’ equaliser was not spotted by the officials.